A Renovated Austin Home Serves as an Urban Respite

Playful Poise on Bolm Road

Words by Christopher Ferguson, AIA. Photos by James H. Ruiz. @cinematics28

Eight years in the making, a sensitively renovated property lies hidden in plain sight on Bolm Road. Its creatively curated spaces for living and working are modest and serene, reflecting the character of its creator. 

”The most important thing about this house is that it isn’t finished,” laughs Alan Gonzalez, homeowner and principal architect at Aguacate Studios. “It will never be finished,” he says with a swirk. The poetic refrain is all-too familiar among architects who design—and perpetually refine—their own homes, as Alan has done since he purchased the property in 2014. 

At that time, the 1950’s bungalow sat on an oversized lot, its well-worn, 1,020 square foot main structure historically sheltering 10 or more family members at once. 

After gutting the home completely, Alan took measures to respect and retain elements of its original character. By preserving the overall form, structure, and window placements, the lot’s prevailing breezes continue to naturally ventilate the home with minimal need for air conditioning. 

The exterior walls were reclad in an assortment of surplus wood from other projects, narrow planks arranged vertically and varied to avoid homogeneity. Its large swaths of blackened, burnt Shou Sugi Ban complement the site’s lush foliage to almost camouflage the home from the street. Notably, Alan avoided imposing security fencing, opting to subtly define the boundary of his property – a move in keeping with the history of the land.   

Inside, calm stucco walls set off the original vaulted pine ceiling in what is effectively one large space, bathed in light and shadow from two strategically placed skylights. “There are no full walls or doors to my bedroom,” Alan explains. “I wanted the passage to squeeze you instead, so you feel the transition from common space into a private one.”

Back outside, a generous detached garage serves as an office, studio, and workroom, and an outdoor bathroom and utility closet are cleverly hidden by walls adorned with long grasses that rustle in the breeze. 

Alan continues, “Spending my summers growing up in beach towns and cities in Mexico, I loved the movement and texture of the grasses used for the roofs. Using it on the walls adds such a nice contrast to the other materials, and it actually has great insulative properties.” 

Taken holistically, the property feels quiet, restorative, natural, and earnest: an endangered ethos in a rapidly developing city. 

Contact:
5304 Bolm Rd.
aguacatestudios.com
hola@aguacatestudios.com
@aguacate_studios